Presidential Actions Executive Orders Search Select Category All News Briefings & Statements All Presidential Actions Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research All Briefings & Statements Presidential Actions All Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1 . Purpose . The privilege of United States citizenship remains a priceless and profound gift. Since my first day in office, my Administration has guarded against the risks posed by malign foreign actors who attempt to swindle American citizens by taking advantage of the generosity of our Nation. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court decided in Trump v. Barbara , 609 U.S. ___, 146 S. Ct. 2438, 2449 (2026), that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends the privilege of citizenship to children born to parents in the United States “for whom no extraterritorial fiction applie[s].” This order identifies, non-exhaustively, and prescribes action concerning certain categories of children of aliens who do not fall within the rule of birthright citizenship as announced by the Supreme Court. Sec . 2 . Policy . It is the policy of the United States that no executive department or agency shall issue documents recognizing United States citizenship to, or accept documents issued by State, local, or other governments or authorities purporting to recognize United States citizenship regarding, persons when neither parent of that person is a citizen and any of the following applies: (a) either parent of that person is an alien enemy, defined to include any member of a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization under 8 U.S.C. 1189 or Specially Designated Global Terrorist, consistent with the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq ., and Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism), as amended; (b) either parent of that person is a foreign government employee, defined to include: (i) ambassadors; (ii) persons employed by a foreign embassy or consulate who are nationals of that foreign country; (iii) persons employed by a foreign government in an official capacity; and (iv) persons employed by an international organization that possess international-organization immunity; (c) either parent of that person engaged in a commercial transaction to purchase or access birthright citizenship for the person, or engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship, to include: (i) when the parent(s) of the person engage in a commercial transaction to ensure that the person’s mother is present in the United States, or a territory of the United States, to give birth; or (ii) when the parent(s) engage in a commercial transaction with a surrogate present in the United States, or a territory of the United States, to give birth; (d) the person is born in a territory or territorial waters of the United States where citizenship is not conferred by Federal statute. Sec . 3 . Enforcement . (a) The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Commissioner of Social Security shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the regulations and policies of their respective departments and agencies are consistent with this order, and that no officers, employees, or agents of their respective departments and agencies act, or forbear from acting, in any manner inconsistent with this order. (b) The heads of all executive departments and agencies shall issue public guidance within 30 days of the date of this order regarding this order’s implementation with respect to their operations and activities. Sec . 4 . Severability . If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. Sec . 5 . General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Justice. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, August 6, 2026. The post Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship appeared first on The White House .
Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship
Brief
The executive order "Continuing to Protect the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," signed August 6, 2026 by President Donald J. Trump, implements and narrows application of the Supreme Court's June 30, 2026 decision in Trump v. Barbara (609 U.S. ___, 146 S. Ct. 2438). It mandates that federal agencies not issue or accept documents recognizing U.S. citizenship when neither parent is a citizen and one or more specified conditions apply, including parental status as an "alien enemy" (invoking 8 U.S.C. 1189, IEEPA 50 U.S.C. 1701, and EO 13224), service as a foreign government or international-organization employee, engagement in commercial transactions or fraud to secure birthright (including paid travel or surrogate births), or birth in territories where federal statute does not confer citizenship. The Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Social Security Commissioner must align policies, and all agency heads must publish implementation guidance within 30 days; the order preserves severability, is conditioned on law and appropriations, and disclaims creation of enforceable private rights, with DOJ bearing publication costs.
Why it matters
President Donald J. Trump signed the executive order on August 6, 2026, citing the Supreme Court decision Trump v. Barbara, 609 U.S. ___, 146 S. Ct. 2438, 2449 (June 30, 2026), as the legal backdrop for clarifying who qualifies for birthright citizenship.
Key details
- The order directs that no federal department or agency shall issue or accept documents recognizing U.S. citizenship when neither parent is a citizen and any listed condition applies, including parental status as an "alien enemy" (covering designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations under 8 U.S.C. 1189 and Specially Designated Global Terrorists consistent with IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. 1701, and Executive Order 13224).
- It enumerates excluded categories: (b) foreign government employees (ambassadors; embassy/consulate employees who are nationals; official foreign government employees; international-organization employees with immunity); (c) parents who engaged in commercial transactions or fraud to secure birthright citizenship (including paid travel or surrogacy in the U.S.); and (d) births in U.S. territories or territorial waters where Congress has not conferred citizenship.
- Enforcement assignments require the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Social Security Commissioner to align regulations and policies; heads of executive departments must issue public guidance within 30 days. The order contains severability, notes implementation is subject to law and appropriations, creates no private enforceable rights, and directs DOJ to bear publication costs.